FiatSafe Key

Year —2015

Client —Isobar

Photo: D3

A car key reinvented to save lives

Isobar Brasil challenged D3 to create a real, functional product that could change drivers' habits. And so we did the Fiat Safe Key, a car key with integrated breathalyzer, that opens only when the driver proves not to have been drinking.

A design and electronics challenging project

We developed from scratch all the electronics in order to get the smallest possible size with an one year battery life. One of the biggest challenges was to shorten the operating time of a conventional breathalyzer, that usually takes up to 30 seconds to complete the analysis. For this, we developed a sensor that reacts by changing temperature according to the amount of alcohol molecules present in the driver's blow. Based on the analysis of this data, the key decided in under one second, whether it would unlock itself or not.

Photo and Illustration: Diego Nicolau

From idea to prototype

There were several tests of material, forms and methods of production until we came with the final prototype made of aluminum and ferrous metal, produced with precision machining.

Photo: D3

Fiat Safe Key was a finalist at the Innovation Lion, Grand Prix, at the Cannes Lions 2015

D3 is a digital product studio in Brazil since 2002.As a studio we build digital products for companies like Twitter, Fiat, and Google.As a venture builder we've founded startups like Bloom, Zag, and Aura.